Coonhound needs a family
By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Star-Herald
It worked! Because of listing Allie as Pet of the Week, she has found a wonderful forever home. Her new owner was a bit concerned because she is such a big girl, but I believe that once she is out of her cage and into a home, she will slip down to a more manageable weight.
This is a perfect example of networking. We posted Allie on our Facebook page as well and had many people commenting — many of those comments were from people who have worked directly with this wonderful kitty. Keeping my fingers crossed for a long, happy life full of love for Allie.
Now it’s time to move on to the next animal that needs a loving home, so please take a moment and look at our featured Pet of the Week pictures. This week I want you to meet Dan. Dan is an awesome coonhound; he is friendly and playful. Dan loves being outside and with other dogs. Dan is very vocal and will follow his nose anywhere. Do your homework regarding hounds before you decide to adopt.
This has been such a long winter for all of us. You may have noticed more behavioral problems with your dog. The problem may lie in a lack of exercise. Dogs are very intelligent animals and they thrive when they have plenty to do. Yes, there are some dogs that are “couch potatoes” but when given the choice, most dogs want to be active. A bored and under-exercised dog is more likely to chew or be destructive, just looking for something to do. A tired dog is generally a good dog. We need to remember that dogs don’t need just physical exercise but mental exercise as well. Visiting new places, seeing new people, smelling new smells — this is all wonderful for your dog’s well being. When you can’t get out and exercise as much as usual in the winter, try teaching your dogs some tricks to keep his mind going, because once they start thinking for themselves, they can become destructive.
Dogs love to work to make us happy, they like to think and figure out things, so it is much healthier for us to give them a task to do instead of letting them choose one on their own. One thing to consider is what your dog was bred to do. Guard, herd, track, retrieve? Then make up a game that you and your dog can play. For example, if you have a hound, hide treats and have him find them or, better yet, hide yourself and let him find you! Dogs love to solve problems, especially when food is involved. Food toys are an awesome way to keep your dog occupied. In fact, it has been shown that, if given a choice between free food and food that requires work, such as searching or manipulating an object, animals prefer to work for their food. I use Kong toys, and my dogs love them. I just fill the hollow toy with peanut butter, yogurt and kibble or wet dog food and kibble and throw it in the freezer. Frozen filling is more of a challenge for the dogs and less of a mess for you. I have to say though nothing beats a good romp in the field or swim in the river. I try to get my dogs out with me as much as possible, but when the weather is below zero, I use the good ole reliable Kong to keep them occupied.
What is the point of having a pet if you don’t enjoy interacting with it? A dog tied out in the back yard who only receives occasional interaction from his people may develop self-mutilating habits or become aggressive due to frustration. Take the time to know your pet and to enjoy each other. Dogs are very social creatures and thrive on our attention. Enjoy and celebrate your lives together because the rewards you get from a good healthy relationship with your dog are endless.
Do you know how many breeds of dogs there are? There are more than 400 dog breeds, but the American Kennel Club officially recognizes only about 150. The American Rare Breed Assoc. recognizes about 178 and the United Kennel Club about 308.
Do you know what the largest and smallest breeds are? The Mastiff (28-30 inches, 175-190 pounds), and Saint Bernard (24-28 inches and 110 to 200 pounds) are the heaviest breeds. The Chihuahua (I always have a hard time spelling that one!) is the smallest at 6-9 inches and up to 6 pounds. The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed, standing 28-35 inches tall at the shoulders.
What are the most popular breeds in the U.S.? According to the AKC, the following are the most popular breeds: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Beagle, Dachshund, Yorkshire Terrier, Boxer, Poodle, Chihuahua and Shih Tzu.
If you are looking for a friend for life, visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or visit www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org. If you would like to make a donation, please go to our website. You can also send your “happy ending” stories or donations to the shelter at 26 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME 04769.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
